Law Firm Defense

The Law Firm Defense Practice Group defends regional, U.S. and international law firms in both U.S. state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels in complex, high-stakes and often high-profile cases.  Actions filed or threatened against a law firm usually include the potential for severe financial consequences, negative press coverage and reputational damage.

The Law Firm Defense group has an impressive record of success in trials, appeals, and pretrial dismissals as well as extremely favorable settlements.  Our capabilities include:

• Legal malpractice actions
• Bankruptcy-related litigation
• Class and representative actions
• Disqualification motions
• Malicious prosecution actions
• Third-party claims and investigations
• Claims analysis and early resolution

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has successfully defended law firms, their partners and their insurers in such matters for the past 30 years, with aggregate claims in the tens of billions of dollars.  We are well-positioned to defend against the most serious and complex claims that a law firm may face in any jurisdiction.  Our record of success and our extensive resources allow us to handle all facets of these complex cases.

Gibson Dunn’s Law Firm Defense group regularly represents law firms in connection with threatened claims and investigations.  Our goal is to resolve matters before legal action is filed.  Gibson Dunn’s vast and successful experience defending firms, in combination with our focus on obtaining early resolution of threatened claims, permits us to provide capabilities and legal services that are unparalleled in the industry.

Recognizing that law firm clients are sophisticated and knowledgeable, we involve them in every step of the representation.  We invite our clients to participate in devising strategies, and give them opportunities to reduce legal fees and costs in areas where they can provide litigation support.  Our team sends regular updates and budget information to facilitate ongoing case analysis and accurate loss reserve determination.  At any time, as a client, your firm can obtain a computerized “snapshot” of actual and estimated costs in the matter.  On-site, state-of-the-art computer technology and support also allow us to store, organize and retrieve millions of pieces of information in seconds in document-intensive disputes.

Our cost efficiency and effective case management result from lean staffing with lawyers throughout our offices who are highly experienced in malpractice law and other legal issues relevant to law firm defense and claim prevention.  We typically use fewer lawyers than other firms to handle a case from beginning to end.  In the words of one legal observer, “The firm is traditionally outnumbered but never outlawyered.”  Additionally, due to our broad experience, we have abundant internal work product available that allows us to provide the most efficient representation.